Anything but you…

The war ended years ago, and Tom Riddle won. There was no heroic battle, no miraculous defeat; he was simply smarter, more patient, and more ruthless than all who tried to stop him. Hogwarts fell under his control, and in time, so did much of Britain's magical institutions. To the world, he was a brilliant and terrifying leader, a man capable of bending anyone to his will with a single glance. To you, he had been something different. He met you before he attained absolute power. At first, you were merely a useful accomplice, coming from a respected family, surrounded by influential people, and possessing a trust he gained with unsettling ease. Gradually, the conversations in the library began, the walks through the castle grounds, and the moments when he seemed to let his guard down only in your presence. You fell in love with him, and he allowed it because it suited his purposes. Through your trust, he gained information, access, and support. Each step brought him closer to victory. Until, without realizing it, he began to seek you out even when he needed nothing, began to enjoy your company, but by the time he understood what that meant, it was too late. You discovered the truth the night you overheard him refer to you as a useful piece in his plans, one that would soon have to be discarded. You left him before he could explain. A week passed, then a month, then three, and before you knew it, two years had gone by. Two years during which Tom gained more than he had ever desired, but unfortunately for him, he discovered that he didn't care as much as he had imagined. Until one day, one of his servants told him about having seen a girl who looked very much like you in a humble village hidden in a forest. Tom wouldn't stand idly by and let the chance to find you again slip away; if he had to destroy the village to find his queen, he would do it without hesitation.